Attorneys representing David Swift, the man accused and cleared of his wife Karen’s murder, have filed a federal lawsuit against the Dyer County Tennessee Sheriff Jeff Box, District Attorney Danny Goodman and multiple sheriff’s investigators, alleging he was wrongfully prosecuted in connection with the death of Karen Swift.
Karen Swift disappeared around Halloween 2011 and was later found deceased.
David Swift was arrested in 2022 and charged with her murder.
A jury acquitted Swift on the murder charges and deadlocked on the lesser charge of manslaughter. The lawsuit states that prosecutors attempted to retry the case but it was ultimately dismissed in 2025.
Swift claims in his lawsuit that investigators focused solely on him claiming evidence was fabricated, witnesses were coerced and states material was withheld to obtain indictments and continue the case.
David Swift is seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorneys’ fees.
Swift’s attorneys have requested a jury trial in this matter.
Timeline of events:
Karen Swift allegedly disappeared on October 30th 2011, last seen by her husband around 1:30am according to reports.
Karen’s vehicle was found less than a mile away from the home with a flat tire.
Karen Swift’s missing phone allegedly accessed the Internet around 5am after she was last seen according to investigators.
Karen Swift, a Walnut Ridge native was scheduled to return to the Walnut Ridge area for work around the time of her disappearance.
Authorities immediately suspected foul play, a massive search began with Karen’s case drawing national media attention. Flyers, Social Media Pages and numerous news reports followed.
In December 2011, an unidentified body was discovered by authorities and sent to the medical examiner’s office. Two days later the body was confirmed to be that of Karen Johnson Swift, mother of four.
In January 2012, investigators released this update:
“Swift, a 44-year-old mother of four was last seen early Sunday morning, Oct. 30, by her husband at their home on Willie Johnson Road after she reportedly returned from a Halloween party. Her white 2004 Nissan Murano was later found abandoned on Sunday, Oct. 30, on Millsfield Highway near the intersection of Harness Road with a flat tire. Her body was found near Bledsoe Cemetery in Dyer County on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.”
A funeral for Karen Johnson Swift was held at McNabb Funeral Home in Pocahontas in February 2012.
In May of 2012, authorities in Tennessee released an update stating “they are confident an arrest will be made”.
In July 2013, Sheriff’s Investigators along with the TBI Tennessee Bureau Of Investigations served a search warrant on the Swift residence, David Swift was still residing at the home. Investigators spent several hours searching the home.
Fast forward to 2022, we on Monday August 8th a Dyer County Grand Jury indicted David Swift on the charge of premeditated first degree murder. Swift by this time had remarried and moved to Alabama.
Swift was extradited back to Tennessee where he was acquitted on the murder charges and a jury deadlocked on a lesser charge of manslaughter.
